Interstitial cystitis

Interstitial cystitis ( /ˌɪntərˈstɪʃəl sɪsˈtaɪtɨs/ in-tər-sti-shəl sis-ty-tis) or bladder pain syndrome (commonly abbreviated to "IC/BPS") is a chronic, oftentimes severely debilitating disease of the urinary bladder. Of unknown cause, it is characterized by: pain associated with the bladder, pain associated with urination (dysuria), urinary frequency (as often as every 10 minutes), urgency, and/or pressure in the bladder and/or pelvis. The disease has a profound impact on quality of life. A Harvard University study concluded, "the impact of interstitial cystitis on quality of life is severe and debilitating". A Harvard Medical School guide states that the quality of life of interstitial cystitis patients resembles that of a person on...